Fall Fall Fall

Well here in Spokane summer came late and didn't last too long. It was HOT HOT HOT and then all of the sudden it was cool cool cool and getting dark early. It is supposed to warm up again to the upper 80's this week.

This fall is WAY different for our family this year. To start we have football and cheer still going on so we are not really used to having practice on school nights and definitely not 4 nights a week. We are getting by and making it work. Thank goodness I'm only working part time and can get dinner started early and just have to reheat after practice. Tino is in middle school and Sam is now in first grade so we have more homework to help the kids with now. Mya and Sam start religious education tonight and will go till spring, so there is just another thing to add to our plats of things to do and places to be.  And the big change is we now have a teenager in the house (almost two of them). My niece Esprit came to live with us back in July. Her boyfriend Alex lives here in Spokane so he is always there too, which is why I say almost two teenagers living with us. It has been an adjustment for all of us but we are now getting into a grove and things are happening like family life should be. Spree has been a lot of help around the house. She is in the On Track program at the Skill Center and will be doing Running Start I think for Winter Quarter at Spokane Community College.  

Last month the boys had a surprise visit from their mom. They got to meet their youngest brother Blu. She was here for about 10 days and they spent about 7 or 8 of them with her. I was very happy they got to see her after almost 4 years of not seeing her. 

Here are some pictures of the kids on the first day of school. Enjoy your Fall season where ever you are at!!!! The Hernandez Family

 

Are You Ready for Some Football !?!?!

This is our family's first year doing Pop Warner. We are super excited. It took a lot of work and it cost A LOT of money but we finally got it all taken care of. It was kinda hard finding a team that both boys could be on the same team and that had a cheer squad. The boys were a bit disappointed that they didn't get to be on the team with the friends from their school. Oscar and I were a bit disappointed that they didn't get put on a team that practices a block away from the house. But it all worked out.

So on Saturday's we are Chargers Fans!!! (On Sunday's we're still Eagles Fans) The boys are playing for the Pee Wee team. The girls are on the Cheer Squad for all 3 Charger teams. That means they don't get to cheer at all of their brother's games. From what I can tell with the two schedules it doesn't look like there are any two that are at the same time so the girls will get to go to all the boys' games. They will be in uniform and can do some cheers but the whole squad won't be there.

Practices started on August 1st and were in full effect from the first day. The boys did get a new coach after the first 2 weeks but I think it turned out for the best. The first day they got to practice with pads Lil O was a bit scared but that was from a story I told him. After that they were in it just like all the other boys that have played before. The girls have a GREAT coach and are really loving cheer. The whole house knows how to "spread that V, dot that I and work that C-T-O-R-Y"

The boys got their first taste of "real game" this past weekend at the Jamboree in Cheney. They played in 3 mini games. The girls and I weren't able to make it to the Jamboree because we were at my family reunion. Tino got REALLY sick on Sunday and didn't play at all, but Lil O did in the last 2 games and did pretty good I guess. So this weekend is our first "official" game. We are super excited and I can't wait to see the kids all dressed up.

GO Chargers Go!!!

The 3 Hour Cruise

As many of you know Oscar is ALWAYS winning stuff on the radio. A few weeks ago he won tickets to a Coyote Country Lake Coeur d'Alene Cruise this past Friday. When we found out my parents were going to be in town that same day we invited them. Then we found out John, Oscar's brother, was also going to be in town so he and their mom decided to join us as well.
When we got there, there was a small tiff with the whole parking situation but if you know me and Oscar at all you'll know that EVERY time we park at an event of some kind or in a place we don't know we always get into an argument. But we got onto the boat and found a table and we were all ready to have a good time. Oscar and John were the first ones on and Oscar of course was the first one of us in line for a beer. There were two lines, one that just had beer and food, and the other was the full bar with beer and the hard stuff. The line to the full bar was way longer so Oscar went to the small line to get a beer. Well he paid $6.75 for the one Bud Light. After he came back to the table his "yea my first cruise" look was off his face and he had on his "I just paid $6.75 for one beer" sad look on his face. I don't know if the lady was new or hit the wrong button but the rest of the night the beers were not as expensive and we got our good time on.
We had a really good time and Oscar and I got to meet a lot of people from the Jay and Kevin Show that we listen to each morning. We all got to enjoy a beautiful sunset as we headed back to shore. Over all it was so much fun and we can't wait to do it again.

Our First Summer Weekend

We had our first taste of summer this weekend. Tino's baseball team, The Spokane Storm, had a tournament in Wenatchee. We brought along a friend of his to play on the team because they needed an extra player.

After Sam performed in the school talent show on Friday we got the car all packed up and drove over to Moses Lake for the night. We had a really good dinner with my parents, Mike and Cassandra and George and Krisitn. We watched some old home movies and had a really good time.Saturday morning we got up and had some breakfast then headed off to Wenatchee. Before we left my dad gave each of the boys 5 bucks to spend at the concession stand. We were now minus two kids, because the girls stayed in Moses Lake with my parents. We found the fields where the Storm was going to be playing and got all settled in for some baseball. I had my Storm shirt and Oscar had his Storm hat, we were ready to cheer on our boys. They lost the first game but played really good. After that we headed to Walla Walla Park for big Oscar to play in the AAA softball game. We dropped of Oscar then when to check in to the hotel. Thanks to Maria we got a GREAT deal on a GREAT room a the Comfort Suites. We got all checked in and had a quick lunch then headed back to Walla Walla park to watch Oscar's game. He was so happy to play some softball and he had a few really good plays. At this point the 5 dollars were burning holes in they boys' pockets so they got some candy. Just before we had to leave the announcer came on and said "for the next 10 minutes we'll have free ice cream for kids under 13" so the boys all went and got a free ice cream. After that we headed back to Lincoln Park to watch Tino and Eli play their second game. Eli got to pitch in this one and they boys all played really well, and we won this one. Fresh off that win we headed back over to Walla Walla Park and Oscar got in to the second half of another AAA game. Then the kids went to spend the rest of their mom on some more candy.

Then my brother George was tied for 1st place in a singles derby. I had never heard of a singles derby but it was really cool to watch. George took 1st and won a $60 gift card to Sports Authority, a cooler, a BBQer, a bat bag and a trophy.
After that long day in the sun we headed to Godfather for some pizza. (might be my favorite part of the weekend) Then back to the hotel and the boys wanted to go swimming. It was kinda late and we had to be back at the fields at 7:15 so we couldn't stay up too late. Luckily for me I took the boys down to the pool and I think every kid in the hotel was down there and their parents. I can't believe how many people were in there. I tried to take a picture but I didn't want to look creepy by taking pictures of kids in the pool so this picture doesn't really show all the kids but it was crazy in there. So the boys were done after about 15 minutes of swimming.
On Sunday we were up early and went down for a GREAT hot free breakfast the hotel provided us with. The Storm lost their first game, played a really close second game and won that one. So we had a quick picnic in the park and then they played the third game. By this time the sun was HOT and the boys were tired. We lost that one but they still played good. We went back to Walla Walla Park to try to catch a AAA game but they were done for the weekend. George game the boys some money to buy some even more candy. Lil Oscar cam back with 12 little laffy taffy's. His dad told him not to eat them all because he was pretty hyper on Saturday and he didn't want him to have too much sugar. So we when back to Moses Lake to get the girls and hung out with my parents for a bit. And then we went to hang out with Mark and Cindy for a bit.

When we got to Mark's Lil Oscar said he didn't feel good that his stomach hurt. We told him it was from all the candy and sweets and soda he had. As soon as we got in the car he was out asleep. It was 7:30ish by this time. We almost to Ritzville by this time and Tino had to use the restroom, so I stopped at a gas station. When I came out of the restroom as I looked over the car at Big Oscar on the driver side had the biggest smile on his face like he had just won the lotto or something, he nodded his head over to the side as telling me to look over. So I came over to his side of the car and looked, expecting to see the girls doing a dance or something cute. Nome it was Lil Oscar bent over puking his guts out. After I yelled at Big Oscar for laughing at him I went in and got Lil O a 7up. When got back to the car Lil O said he felt way better. And we told him once again that he ate way too much sugar. We told him that we don't tell them not to eat sweets because we're being mean, we tell them that because we know you can really get sick. He felt much better the rest of the ride home. We finally got back to Spokane around 10 (yes, on a school night I know we're bad parents, I know) and took Eli home. The weekend looked like it was finally coming to an end as we turned down our street. Then we pulled up closer to the house and notice that the garage door was open. We watched it shut as we left so we didn't know why it was open. As I was pulling up the drive way I was looking around to see if I could see anything missing then all of the sudden I heard a big crash. I stopped the car and then remembered the about the roof cargo storage we had. So I backed out of the garage and we took all the kids inside and got them all ready for bed. Then Oscar and I went back outside to unpack. The canvas storage bag was ripped and the clasps were broken. We laughed as we unpacked and brought it all in the house. It was pretty funny.

That was our first taste of summer. We have plenty of weekend trips planned and I'm sure they will all be just has fun if not more. But with all the wind and rain Spokane has seen the last few months we really needed this.

Autism Walk

A few weeks ago me, Oscar and the kids went to Ephrata and did an Autism Awareness Walk. We did it last year also and we hope to make this a yearly Hernandez tradition. It was so much fun. When we got to the park there were jumping castles for the kids and face painting. We met up with my family and got one our way. There are 3 different walks, one is 1 mile, one is 3 miles and one is 4 miles. Last year we did the long walk, but his year since Sam was walking and not in a stroller we did the short walk. Once we got back to the park the kids went on pony rides. It was a great family day together.

Watching the Grass Grow

Nine months we have been in our house now. There was so much that needed to be done, and fixed, and painted, and planted and if I could have it my way it would all be done by now. But with the lack of time, money and know how, to get it all done we are slowing working on things. So if you remember the yard was a horrible mess. It hadn't be watered in about a year and mowed in probably 18 months. The dead weeds and broken toys were up to our knees and waist in some spots. So we took the weed wacker and wacked it all down. We made LOTS of trips to the dump and we (Oscar and his dad) put in underground sprinklers. It started to look a little bit better. Then I planted grass seed and watered it twice a day every day for a few minutes. It started to get green and looked SO much better. There were still lots of bare spots but it was still better than when we first moved in.
Then after a few weeks of waiting for the seed to come up, Alfonso (Oscar's dad) called and said he could get us a TON of free sod from his work. We were so happy we called our friends and spend a day and a half hauling the sod from the college to our house. It was so much sod. It took Oscar and Tim hours to get it all laid out but they did it. And it looks great.
Now it's not the greatest yard on the block but it gets the job done.

Busy Busy Busy

I feel like I have honestly been runny like a mad woman. Today Mya left on her trip to California with her grandma Doody (Oscar's mom). She takes all the kids when they are 6. Tino and Oscar already went so now it's Mya's turn. I feel like I have been getting her ready for weeks. Got her some new clothes, some new sandals, pulled out her summer clothes and got her all packed.

Then we are doing some work on the front and back yard of the house. We wanted to do it soon before we run out of money and can't do the work. So we called around for prices. We dug up the front yard to make room for a new walk way. We did some digging and moving of dirt in the back yard to make it level and ready to plant grass. We work on the sprinkler to make sure they are ready for the new seed and sod. This weekend should be pretty busy with that work.

Also I have had a huge headache with getting the boys in baseball. I signed them up for a league about a month ago. Then as time went by we didn't hear from a coach or anything. I have tried to make calls and send email and nothing. FINALLY I heard back from some one and the league I picked to put the boys in was just getting started for the first time this year and didn't have their duck in a row. So now 3 weeks later I find out there is no league. In the mean time the other league in town has already had try outs. But I was able to get the boys in and on a team. But if I hadn't called and emailed I don't know if they would have ever contacted me to tell me there was no league this year.

Then we have trial. This is my 3rd or 4th trial. But this is my first trial that I have worked on the case from start to finish. This is the first trial that I know just about all there is to know. I have talked to all the witnessed. I have talked to and met with the client. So for the last few weeks we have been getting ready for trial. I have to label and deliver the exhibits. I had to contact and subpoena all of our witnesses. Trial started on Monday and I have been there in the courtroom and back at the office getting stuff ready. It's really great to see the process from start to finish. We should be done presenting our side tomorrow morning and then its up to the jury. I hope we win this one. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

So that has been my busy life for the last few weeks. I cant wait for April 16th to go on a mini vacation with my husband.